Rad (film)

: "This article is about the film Rad. For other usages of the term, see Rad."

Infobox Film
name = Rad


caption = Theatrical release poster
writer = Sam Bernard
Geoffery Edwards
starring = Bill Allen,
Lori Loughlin,
Talia Shire,
Ray Walston,
Alfie Wise,
Jack Weston
director = Hal Needham
producer = Sam Bernard,
Mary Eilts,
Robert L. Levy,
Jack Schwartzman
cinematography = Richard Leiterman
distributor = Columbia Tristar,
Tristar Pictures
released = March 21, 1986
runtime = 91 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget = | music = James Di Pasquale
awards = 1987 Young Artist Award (Laura Jacoby)
imdb_id = 0091817

"Rad" is a film about BMX racing, first released in the USA in 1986. The film was written by Sam Bernard and Geoffrey Edwards and directed by Hal Needham. It stars Bill Allen and Lori Loughlin. While the film was critically lambasted, it has developed into a cult film classic.

Plot

The film's story focuses on Cru Jones (Bill Allen), a young BMX racer who lives in a small town with his mother (Talia Shire) and sister. Cru is faced with a tough decision: the qualifying races for Helltrack are the same day as his SAT's, which he must take in order to attend college. However, winning Helltrack means a lucrative sponsorship deal and fame. Cru chooses the latter option, ignoring his mother's wishes.

The Helltrack race is endorsed by the city and a duplicitous Duke Best (Jack Weston), president of Mongoose bicycles. Best keeps adjusting the rules in order to keep Cru out of the race and to ensure BMX star Bart Taylor (1984 Olympic gymnastics champion Bart Conner) has an easy road to victory, thus providing a financial windfall for Mongoose Racing, Bart's sponsor.

Racers from all around come to this small town for the Helltrack and Cru meets Christian Hollings (Lori Loughlin), who becomes Cru's romantic interest. Christian and Cru have an interesting scene at the local high school dance where, instead of dancing like the other couples, they perform freestyle bike stunts on the dance floor, to the awe of many. Duke Best and his flunkie step over to the punchbowl, and "wake up those drinks" to which the mayor/restaurant manager says "don't mind if I do." After being blocked from the race due to a last minute rule change on participant sponsorship, Cru is ready to give up his dreams of winning Helltrack. Christian provides Cru with an idea for how he can still enter the race. With the help of one of the townsfolk, Mr. Timmer (Ray Walston) and the founding of "Rad Racing," a small t-shirt business started by Cru's classmate Matt Weston., Cru is finally able to enter Helltrack. Sgt. Smith tells Cru to "pretend he's in the lumberyard....Go balls out."

DVD Release

"Rad" was never released on DVD, due to licensing issues with Embassay Entertainment, the movie's production team. VHS copies of the film are sold online, and copies have been made from televised broadcasts on HD channels compressed to DVD quality.

DVD petition

For the past 2 to 4 years, many "Rad" fans have signed an online petition to get the film released onto DVD. As of December, 2007, more than 400.000 fans had signed the petition.

Bring Back RAD

[http://scrapetv.com/Rad/Rad%20page%201.html Bring Back RAD] .html was established in 2008 in an effort to gain support for a DVD release of the film by tracking down the rights and contacting the holders. Included is a listing of the copyright information and various links from around the web, including the petition.

External links

*imdb title | id=0091817 | title=Rad
* [http://www.billallenrad.com BillAllenRad.com]
* [http://scrapetv.com/Rad/Rad%20page%201.html BringBackRad]